Canon EF 50mm f/1.8mm STM Lens @ Work Again

With Canon EOS 6D / EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens 'Nifty Fifty' Lens

Canon EOS 6D / EF f1.8 STM Lens : Rose Flower, Milnerton, Cape Town

These record images were be part of a bigger flower project initiation (with different Canon EOS cameras and EF lenses).

I spent some time getting myself acquainted with a new flower project I will be working on over the next few months. Primarily flower arrangements will predominantly be captured with wider lenses, but I couldn’t resist putting the nimble ‘nifty fifty’ through its paces (for some impromptu fine art).

The 50mm is such a creative lens on both Canon Full-Frame and / or Crop camera bodies. Most of the other lenses I use with Canon Speedlite flash, but with the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens the photography challenges are just so intuitive – any I was unchallenged by natural light. All images captured in Av Mode.

Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright | Intellectual Property

Apertures Used:

• Image 1: f/5.6
• Image 2: f/4
• Image 3: f/11
• Image: 4: f/4

Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography

Camera / Lens for Flower Photography Milnerton

• Canon EOS 6D (Full-Frame)
• Canon EF 50mm STM lens

Exposure / Focus Settings

• Autofocus On
• Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
• Apertures (f/4 - 11) 
• Auto-ISO (100 -640)
• Shutter Speeds (various)
• No IS
• Handheld

Image Post-Processing

Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5) - minor adjustments /  RAW to JPEG conversion

With Permission: Linda May / Owner of Flowers Atlantic (Milnerton) https://flowersatlantic.co.za/About-Us

 Canon EOS 6D / EF f1.8 STM Lens : Wild Flowers, Milnerton, Cape Town

 Canon EOS 6D / EF f1.8 STM Lens : Sunflower, Milnerton. Cape Town

 Canon EOS 6D / EF f1.8 STM Lens : Jewelry, Milnerton. Cape Town

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for Wild Flower Photography

Flower Photography with the Canon EF f/1.8STM Lens

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens, known for its sharpness and affordability, can be a great choice for flower photography. Here are some tips and features of the lens that can help you capture stunning flower shots:

Key Benefits of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for Flower Photography

• Wide Aperture for Soft Backgrounds: With an f/1.8 aperture, this lens allows for a shallow depth of field, which creates a soft, blurred background. This effect, known as "bokeh," helps isolate the flower from its surroundings, making it stand out.

• Sharpness and Clarity: The lens is known for its sharpness, especially when stopped down to around f/2.8 or f/4. This can bring out fine details in flower petals, textures, and colors, especially when shooting close-ups.

• Low-Light Performance: The f/1.8 aperture also enables more light to enter the lens, which is useful in low-light conditions, like early morning or late afternoon, times often ideal for flower photography due to softer, more diffuse light.

• Compact and Lightweight: The 50mm f/1.8 STM is lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to carry around, especially for outdoor flower photography where you may need to move around a lot to find the best angles.
  
  

Tips for Flower Photography with the 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

• Get Close (But Mind the Minimum Focus Distance): The Canon 50mm f/1.8 has a minimum focusing distance of about 35 cm (1.15 feet). For closer shots, consider using extension tubes to reduce the focus distance and capture finer details.

• Control Your Depth of Field: Although f/1.8 is tempting, it can sometimes result in very thin focus when close to the subject. Experiment with f/2.8 or f/4 for better sharpness while still keeping a nicely blurred background.

• Use Natural Light: Early morning or late afternoon sunlight is softer and can add a gentle glow to your flower shots. Avoid harsh midday light, which can wash out colors and create strong shadows.

• Use Manual Focus: For precise control, especially when focusing on delicate details, switch to manual focus. This allows you to lock in on a specific part of the flower, such as the stamen or petal edge.

• Experiment with Angles: Try different angles, including shooting from below, to capture the flower's shape and details in unique ways." (Source: ChatGPT 2024)

Advantages of the Canon EF f/1.8STM Lens

"The Canon EF "Nifty-Fifty" lens typically refers to Canon's 50mm f/1.8 lens, which has become a popular choice among photographers for several reasons:

• Affordability: It's one of Canon's most affordable lenses, making it a go-to option for beginners and professionals alike who want high-quality optics without a high price tag.
  
  
• Versatile Focal Length: The 50mm focal length is versatile, offering a "normal" field of view similar to what the human eye sees. It's suitable for portraits, street photography, and even some types of landscapes.
  
  
• Wide Aperture (f/1.8): The f/1.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and creates beautiful, soft backgrounds with a shallow depth of field. This feature makes it great for portraits, where you want to isolate the subject.
  
  
• Compact and Lightweight: The lens is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and an ideal travel companion.
  
  
• Sharpness and Image Quality: Despite its low price, the lens produces sharp images with good color and contrast, particularly when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4.

There are also variants like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 and the more premium Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L, but the f/1.8 "Nifty-Fifty" remains popular for its blend of affordability and performance. It’s a lens many photographers, including enthusiasts like Vernon Chalmers, would recommend as a staple in any Canon kit." (Source: ChatGPT 2024)

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